Wildlife...

AVGWarhawk · 07-10-13, 12:36 PM

My wife and I purchased a new home February this year. It backs to the wood and there is a large pond about 100 yards off our property. We have had several encounters with wildlife. Thus far:

1. Two deer that feed at our bird feeders nightly
2. A groundhog that surprised the heck out of my wife after he was caught sneaking up on her. They locked eyes in surprise and both ran off in opposite directions.
3. A gray fox that runs the same trail behind our house everyday.
4. Birds abound at feeders. Gold Finch, Slate Colored Junco, Blue Jay, Nut Hatch, Hummingbirds, Northern Oriole, various woodpeckers, etc.
5. Toads and frogs galore from the pond out back.
6. Snapping turtles from the same pond.

Today this hawk landed on our newly installed deck. We are living in a zoo!

BrucePartington · 07-10-13, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

My wife and I purchased a new home February this year. It backs to the wood and there is a large pond about 100 yards off our property. We have had several encounters with wildlife. Thus far:

1. Two deer that feed at our bird feeders nightly
2. A groundhog that surprised the heck out of my wife after he was caught sneaking up on her. They locked eyes in surprise and both ran off in opposite directions.
3. A gray fox that runs the same trail behind our house everyday.
4. Birds abound at feeders. Gold Finch, Slate Colored Junco, Blue Jay, Nut Hatch, Hummingbirds, Northern Oriole, various woodpeckers, etc.
5. Toads and frogs galore from the pond out back.
6. Snapping turtles from the same pond.

Today this hawk landed on our newly installed deck. We are living in a zoo!

I so envy you.
I only spot the occasional hedgehog, sometimes a hare. It's a semi-rural area, in the "old world", where wildlife has been massively hunted for centuries.

AVGWarhawk · 07-10-13, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrucePartington

I so envy you.
I only spot the occasional hedgehog, sometimes a hare. It's a semi-rural area, in the "old world", where wildlife has been massively hunted for centuries.

Speaking of hares...I forgot to add a baby bunny hopped through the yard two weeks ago. Acted like he owned it.

nikimcbee · 07-10-13, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Speaking of hares...I forgot to add a baby bunny hopped through the yard two weeks ago. Acted like he owned it.

That explains the hawks.

AVGWarhawk · 07-10-13, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

That explains the hawks.

Actually, just below him is a new small pond with waterfall that I created this past weekend. It has a large ceramic frog sprouting water(from a pump in the lower pond) into the top pond portion and the water falls to the lower pond. Looks like a natural watering hole with fish as far as he is concerned. Sadly, no fish! He will be waiting a long time!

However, I have a 8 pound poodle. Just ripe for picking I'm sure he is thinking!

Herr-Berbunch · 07-10-13, 02:20 PM

Isn't nature wonderful, all I see are raptors overhead and the neighbour's cats going on my lawn - unfortunately they cats are never the prey! Don't even get as many foxes or hedgehogs as we did in town!

We also have fallow, muntjac, and roe deer but I've only ever seen muntjac, and only once.

Schroeder · 07-10-13, 01:23 PM

You forgot to mention the gazillion mosquitoes from the pond.

AVGWarhawk · 07-10-13, 01:43 PM

By and large the mosquitoes are fewer at this house than our old home. That home was on a creek that fed the Chesapeake Bay. I suspect the 1000's of frogs in the pond eat a lot of mosquito larvae. When the frogs start making their calls for a female, usually starting about 6pm, we can hardly hear ourselves think. When a mosquito does show up, my wife is their first target.

Best mosquito repellent for me is my wife.

WernherVonTrapp · 07-10-13, 08:31 PM

Very nice, AVGWarhawk. Me and my wife also recently moved from the city in NJ to rural PA. I can't tell for certain in that photo, but that looks like a Sharp Shinned Hawk. We have one living nearby too. Same thing with mosquitos by me also (2 lakes in our community). Not really a problem. Early in the season, we were inundated with gnats, but they were gone after 2 or 3 weeks. Lots of frogs, newts, land snails and salamanders too, not to mention all kinds of spiders.
Good luck in your new home, mate.

Sailor Steve · 07-10-13, 08:38 PM

With a golf course next door and a small river a block away we get a few squirrels the come out in our parking lot looking for food, and a bunch of different birds. That's about it.

WernherVonTrapp · 07-10-13, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

With a golf course next door and a small river a block away we get a few squirrels the come out in our parking lot looking for food, and a bunch of different birds. That's about it.

A golf course?

Surely you must've seen a gopher or two. Maybe one that sounds like "Flipper"?

Platapus · 07-25-13, 01:51 PM

If anyone is interested in squrells and how hard it is to stop them, the BBC put out a documentary entitled "Daylight Robbery". I assume that it is on Youtube. There was actually two documentaries. I preferred the first.

It is a very enjoyable film to watch about how clever squrells can be when motivated by food.

AVGWarhawk · 07-25-13, 02:03 PM

They are quite clever and relentless. We know we will not beat them. Shoot one and five more come behind it. So, we are working on working with them. It has become challenge but we are winning. There is now a tray on the ground with squirrel food. The feeders moved to a place that is less tempting for them to try the strafing run. The poles with baffles. They get frustrated and eat what seeds are thrown to the ground by the birds. The soon take the path of least resistance and go to the squirrel feed on the ground. At least today they started using it.

WernherVonTrapp · 07-25-13, 02:24 PM

Nice wildlife pics everyone!

I've got a few bird pics from my new home in PA.

Tom Turkeys:

Scarlet Tanager:

Northern Flicker:

Dark-Eyed Junco:

AVGWarhawk · 07-25-13, 02:44 PM

The only place I have seen wild turkey is PA. Strange but beautiful bird.

07-10-13, 12:36 PM	#1
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Wildlife... My wife and I purchased a new home February this year. It backs to the wood and there is a large pond about 100 yards off our property. We have had several encounters with wildlife. Thus far: 1. Two deer that feed at our bird feeders nightly 2. A groundhog that surprised the heck out of my wife after he was caught sneaking up on her. They locked eyes in surprise and both ran off in opposite directions. 3. A gray fox that runs the same trail behind our house everyday. 4. Birds abound at feeders. Gold Finch, Slate Colored Junco, Blue Jay, Nut Hatch, Hummingbirds, Northern Oriole, various woodpeckers, etc. 5. Toads and frogs galore from the pond out back. 6. Snapping turtles from the same pond. Today this hawk landed on our newly installed deck. We are living in a zoo! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-10-13, 02:20 PM	#6
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Isn't nature wonderful, all I see are raptors overhead and the neighbour's cats going on my lawn - unfortunately they cats are never the prey! Don't even get as many foxes or hedgehogs as we did in town! We also have fallow, muntjac, and roe deer but I've only ever seen muntjac, and only once. __________________

07-10-13, 01:23 PM	#7
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	You forgot to mention the gazillion mosquitoes from the pond. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

07-10-13, 01:43 PM	#8
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	By and large the mosquitoes are fewer at this house than our old home. That home was on a creek that fed the Chesapeake Bay. I suspect the 1000's of frogs in the pond eat a lot of mosquito larvae. When the frogs start making their calls for a female, usually starting about 6pm, we can hardly hear ourselves think. When a mosquito does show up, my wife is their first target. Best mosquito repellent for me is my wife. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-10-13, 08:31 PM	#9
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Very nice, AVGWarhawk. Me and my wife also recently moved from the city in NJ to rural PA. I can't tell for certain in that photo, but that looks like a Sharp Shinned Hawk. We have one living nearby too. Same thing with mosquitos by me also (2 lakes in our community). Not really a problem. Early in the season, we were inundated with gnats, but they were gone after 2 or 3 weeks. Lots of frogs, newts, land snails and salamanders too, not to mention all kinds of spiders. Good luck in your new home, mate. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

07-10-13, 08:38 PM	#10
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	With a golf course next door and a small river a block away we get a few squirrels the come out in our parking lot looking for food, and a bunch of different birds. That's about it. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-25-13, 01:51 PM	#12
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	If anyone is interested in squrells and how hard it is to stop them, the BBC put out a documentary entitled "Daylight Robbery". I assume that it is on Youtube. There was actually two documentaries. I preferred the first. It is a very enjoyable film to watch about how clever squrells can be when motivated by food. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-25-13, 02:03 PM	#13
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	They are quite clever and relentless. We know we will not beat them. Shoot one and five more come behind it. So, we are working on working with them. It has become challenge but we are winning. There is now a tray on the ground with squirrel food. The feeders moved to a place that is less tempting for them to try the strafing run. The poles with baffles. They get frustrated and eat what seeds are thrown to the ground by the birds. The soon take the path of least resistance and go to the squirrel feed on the ground. At least today they started using it. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-25-13, 02:24 PM	#14
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Nice wildlife pics everyone! I've got a few bird pics from my new home in PA. Tom Turkeys: Scarlet Tanager: Northern Flicker: Dark-Eyed Junco: __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

07-25-13, 02:44 PM	#15
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	The only place I have seen wild turkey is PA. Strange but beautiful bird. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road